When lockdown measures lift and travel restrictions finally ease, holidaying abroad may still be a distant dream but UK staycations are here to stay.
By owning a holiday home, you are not only avoiding the hassle of checking availability and booking policies, but are securing a place for you and your family to escape the everyday rush, and investing in their future happiness and wellbeing.
Combining natural beauty and tranquillity, Madryn Castle Holiday Home Park provides a perfect place to unwind away from life in the city, and it’s easily accessible from Manchester.
The North Wales destination has more than 100 lodge and caravan holiday homes on site, is awarded five stars by the Welsh tourist board and has been providing relaxing escapes for its residents since the 1960s.
Open for an extended 11 and a half months of the year to enjoy all the seasons, with a number of holiday homes available for ownership, the quaint family-owned site is run by managers Samantha Gallimore and Charlie Everitt, who became involved in the park in July 2020.
Originally opening as a holiday park in 1966, the castle grounds are steeped in history with records dating as far back as the Tudor period, and having for centuries remained a manor estate belonging to powerful dynasties who could trace lineage back to royalty. Now only the prominent gatehouse remains of the original estate.
After being purchased by Samantha’s grandfather, John Pritchard in 1998, Samantha is now the third generation of her family to run the park alongside her partner Charlie.
Samantha said: “It’s humbling to hear such positive feedback from many of the people who were still holidaying on the park when my grandad used to run it, they always speak well of him and his energy for restoring and developing this into such an elegant park and area of natural beauty.”
Bringing their own touches and ideas to Madryn Castle, the couple are drawing on their previous experiences of working in exclusive luxury resorts across the globe.
Charlie said: “[People around] the whole world are reflecting and making significant changes to their lives and careers due to this pandemic, with some losing their jobs, feeling isolated or losing their family.
“We are very much a product of this. As expats we were forced to leave our jobs in the Maldives when the world began closing its borders. While using the opportunity to reflect on our circumstances, Samantha’s mum offered us the chance to join the family park and we simply fell in love with it all.
“We had been so caught up in the idealism of living in faraway tropical places, we overlooked the fact that right here on our doorstep in the UK there are equally breathtaking places with so much to offer, such as the Llŷn Peninsula.
“Having made the decision to repatriate, we looked to bring our passion and values back to home soil and support not only UK tourism, but seek to embrace the local environment while engaging and supporting the local communities of North Wales.”
High quality holiday homes
The new Mimosa lodge
Each of the 110 holiday homes has its own unique plot offering complete privacy for residents.
The park is both pet and family friendly, with private nature trails for dog walking, a communal games room with a table tennis and pool table, and a newly developed children’s multi-purpose outdoor play park and activity courts.
With a mix of new and pre-owned luxury holiday homes for sale there are plenty of options, catering for most couples and families’ needs and preferences.
The newly developed Mimosa lodge – named after a ship that sailed the first Welsh emigrants and was led by the former Madryn Estate owner from UK to Patagonia, Argentina in 1865 – is ideal for anyone seeking their own luxury escape.
Fully equipped to high quality residential specifications, it sits at the top of the holiday park with unobstructed views of the mountains, coastline and Snowdonia National Park.
These views spill into the open plan kitchen and dining room, and can be enjoyed from either the rooftop sun terrace, middle uPVC decking or lower Indian sandstone patio. This stunning plot also comes with its own private landscaped garden.
Other properties such as the Pemberton Glendale or the Willerby Pinehurst frame similar picturesque coastal or mountain views from their hillside perches, and offer owners plenty of room to entertain or relax.
Starting from £40,000, each holiday home is generously sized and provides the ideal escape to reconnect with yourself and your family, as well as getting closer to nature.
The perfect place for nature lovers
Having met at Newcastle University while studying for Masters degrees in international marine and environment consultancy, Samantha and Charlie are both passionate about conservation and sustainability and are keen to minimise the park’s environmental footprint wherever possible.
Samantha said: “One of the most important things for us is to always be respectful of the environment without imposing on it.
“When designing a new pitch we consider how to work around the natural landscape and its features, limiting our disturbance.
“Over the years, employees and residents have helped install owl and bird boxes, insect and caterpillar runs, and duck pond houses within our private woodland walks. This not only supports the physical act of conservation, but promotes awareness and education.
“This is very important to us and we want everyone on our park to appreciate and connect with this unique area of Wales and the pristine environment surrounding us.”
Charlie added: “Most people, having visited the area for the first time, are drawn towards the romanticism of owning a holiday home in what is still a relatively undeveloped part of the country.
“This is the ultimate base for those who enjoy being outdoors and going on country walks, hiking mountains and even those who just love relaxing on the beach in the sun.”
Charlie and Samantha have bold plans for the future of Madryn Castle, combining their diverse tourism and hospitality industry experiences with their backgrounds in conservation and sustainability.
Charlies said: “We’re conscious the world is rapidly changing and we want to make sure we grow our business in a way that supports a healthy planet and enables societies to prosper alongside us.
“The tourism industry can place a heavy strain on resources and the environment, and we want to ensure our customers and stakeholders are given opportunities to offset negative impacts and learn more about how they can make a positive difference instead.”
Supporting the local economy
Charlie and Samantha are keen to involve the community in the park as much as possible, with initiatives in the pipeline to back local businesses and help the park’s holiday homeowners support the area and its economy.
Charlie said: “We want to think about the park’s footprint and, during their stays, we want each of our homeowners to feel a part of the local community.
“Rather than falling victim to the convenience of big supermarkets, we’re planning ways to make local and small-scale produce more accessible to our residents. For example, we’re collating details of local suppliers of fresh vegetables, meat, dairy and bread to share among our owners.
“We have also begun discussions with suppliers over the prospect of regular deliveries to our park, which will help address the issue of convenience.
“We do not exist as a business only to support local tourism – we believe we have a shared responsibility to support other local industries and businesses.
Samantha was born in Dolgellau, not far from the park. She said: “We want to embrace Welsh heritage and culture and, once restrictions allow, we hope to invite local specialists to give talks about the culture, nature, geography, art and history, and consider how we can all work together towards a better future.”
Invest in your happiness
Madryn Castle offers holiday homes in an idyllic setting, whether you’re looking to invest in a holiday home or rent one for a long weekend in keeping with measures to tackle Covid-19.
For guests looking to enjoy the Welsh countryside for a limited time, the Aspire Oslo Lodge provides the perfect staycation and is equipped with an outdoor hot tub and BBQ patio area, smart TVs and an open plan kitchen and dining room.
Other bespoke lodges including the Willerby Pinehurst and the Pemberton Glendale are ideal for anyone seeking a place to call their own and guarantee privacy and space to unwind, relax and explore once nationwide travel is reinstated.
